Gate-latch.



PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904.

H. K. SMITH.

GATE LATCH.

APPLIOATIOH mun 213.23, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

avwemtoz Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE. I

HARRY K. SMITH, OF ARCHER, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,076, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed February 23, 1904. Serial No. 194,741. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY K. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Archer, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate-Latches; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gate-latches, and has for its object strength and durability, together with simplicity of construction.

Improved details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claim when read in connection with the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate provided with my latch. Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on the line4 4c of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the keeper. Fig. 6 is an elevation thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 7 indicates a gate which is hinged to a post 7 to swing in either direction.

At 8 is indicated a post which carries a keeper 9. The latter comprises a rectangular plate or casting having on its face a projection 9 formed with a central notch 9 and beveled or slanting to each end. To fasten the keeper, a bolt 10 extends through a slot 9 in the keeper and through the post, the slot being countersunk to receive the head of the bolt. The purpose of the slot is to permit lateral adjustment of the keeper. Additional fastening means comprise screws, which extend through holes 10 near the lower corners of the keeperplate and into the post.

Around the end boards 7 of the gate a strap 11 is secured, which has horizontally-projecting arms 11, and along the edge of the gate opposite the post 8 a strip 12 is secured, having hooked ends 12 to receive the ends of a flat spring-strip 13, which forms the latch. Bolts 14 pass through the hooked ends 12 of the strip 12 and through the latch 13 into the gate, whereby the parts are secured together. To permit movement of the latch 13, it is slotted, as at 13, through which slots the bolt 14 passes. The arms 11 have elongated vertically-alined slots 11, through which the latch 13 extends, and which guide its movement back and forth when in use. The latch 13 normally projects outwardly and lies in the notch of the keeper when the gate is closed. The keeper is so positioned on the post that the projection 9 exten'ds between the arms 11 when the gate is closed, and that part of the latch which engages the keeper is rounded, as at 13 to facilitate its movement along the beveled portion of the keeper. To retract the latch and permit opening of the gate, I provide a hand-lever 15, which is pivoted at its lower end to one of the horizontal slats or boards 7 of the gate and carries a rod 16, the outer end of which engages a link 17 around the latch between the arms 11. The link extends through registering slots in the strap 11 and strip 12. There are two end boards 7 between which the horizontal slats or boards 7 of the gate extend and are secured. This spaces the end boards, and the rod 16 extends and operates between them, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that when the lever is swung rearwardly the latch will be retracted from the notch, which permits opening of the gate. The upper end of the lever extends some distance above the gate to permit operation of the latch by a mounted person without the inconvenience of dismounting. The lever also has a handheld 18 for ordinary use. The rod 16 is secured to the handlever by a bolt 19, and by providing the lever with a number of bolt-holes, as shown, the parts may be properly adjusted. Near the upper end of the gate a strap 20 is secured, under which the hand-lever extends and whereby its movement is guided. At 21 is indicated a bearing-plate, which is secured to the gate and has a projecting stud 21, on which the hand-lever is pivoted.

A bolt 21 extends through the stud and through a slot 21" in one of the slots 7. This slotted construction permits the proper adjustment of the hand-lever with respect to the other parts of the device.

The operation of the latch is very simple, it being necessary only to swing the hand-lever rearwardly, after which the gate can be pushed open. When the gate is shut, the

.latch will strike the beveled portion 01 the projection on the keeper, which will force it into the notch and in which it will be held by its spring. The gate swings both ways and can be opened and closed from either side. If any of the parts become loosened from wear or otherwise, they can be readily adjusted, whereby the latch can be kept in good order at all times.

Having thus described my invention, what HARRY K. SMITH.

Witnesses:

LULU A. SMITH, lVT'A-E SMITH; 

